Container hole punching mechanisms

ABSTRACT

A gang punching mechanism having a movable mounted power actuated punch for pressure shearing an opening in sidewalls of a plastic container.

United States Patent CONTAINER HOLE PUNCHING MECHANISMS 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 83/ 162,

83/467, 83/559, 83/639, 83/685, 83/699, 83/925 Int. Cl. B2611 5/12 Field of Search 83/685,

Primary Examiner-Frank T. Yost Attorney-Striker and Jacobson ABSTRACT: A gang punching mechanism having a movable mounted power actuated punch for pressure shearing an opening in sidewalls of a plastic container.

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i as 40 PATENTEUJAN 5197i $552,250

SHEET 1 OF 2 llllli lll l i l I 771 III 11/1/11 I INVENTOR DONALD 7. NORDV/K BY 1W ATTORNEYS PATENTED M 5m: 3.552.250

SHEET 2 [IF 2 INVENTOR F/g. 001mm 77 NORDV//( AT TORN EYS 1 CONTAINER HOLE PUNCHING MECHANISMS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to hole punching mechanisms and, more specifically, to power actuated adjustable hole punching mechanisms for rapidly positioning and forming holes in intercell partitions of plastic battery containers.

Description of the Prior Art In order to manufacture plastic battery containers, it is necessary to perform a number of steps. One of the manufacturing steps is forming holes'in the intercell partition walls of the container for the intercell connectors. Mechanisms for forming or punching a hole through the wall of containers are well known in the art. For example, there are click punches which have bifurcated arms, one arm containing a die and the other containing a punch member that is extendable into a shearing relation into the die. These punches are generally operated by a cam mechanism or a lever mechanism. If a number of these punch and die mechanisms are used to form a number of holes in a container they are permanently mounted in a special jig. If only one type of container is manufactured these punch mechanisms are satisfactory. However, if a number of different size containers are manufactured, the manufacturer must make a special jig and punching mechanism for each size container. Obviously, this is costly and time consuming. Thus these prior art devices have been limited in their usefulness for punching holes in different size containers because of the necessity for permanently mounting the punching mechanism. Oftentimes, a manufacturer obtains an order for a different size battery container which requires a different location for the openings in the walls of a container. In order to form the opening in these different size containers he would have to make a new jig and punching mechanism, which not only increases the cost but also is time consuming thus extending the time to fill the order. Obviously, with today's market requiring many different types of batteries for various types of vehicles, it is desirable for a manufacturer to have a single punching assembly machine that is readily adaptable to punch holes in the many different size battery containers. It is also necessary to have the holes punched accurately so that when the intercell connectors are inserted through the holes they are in proper alignment.

1 have invented an apparatus which overcomes these prior art problems by use ofa rotatable mounted and a hydraulic actuated punching mechanism. The rotatable mounting allows the punching mechanism to be used in any number of different positions with a single jig. Furthermore, the pressure actuated punching mechanism is readily movable because of the flexibility of the field coupling lines. In addition, the punching mechanism is more reliable because the only moving part in the punching mechanism is the punch. That is, there are no levers or cams to wear because the hydraulic pressure acts directly on the back of the punch to extend it through a wall in a shearing relation. l have also provided an adjustable spacer insert that can be quickly removed to change the location of the opening in a battery container wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the invention comprises a first member having an opening for receiving a wall of a battery container in which there is to be formed a hole and a hydraulically actuated punching member for shearing a hole in the wall of the container. The first member is mounted in a rotatable relationship in a second member so that'the opening in the first member can be rotated to any desired orientation to receive a different container.

BRIEF DESCription of the drawing FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of my hole punch mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a front view partially in section of my hole punch mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a fixture for holding a plurality of my hole punch mechanisms and a fixture for aligning a container with my hole punching mechanisms; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of the fixtures shown in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 designates my hole punching mechanism comprising a first member 11 located in a rotatable relationship with a second member 12. Member 11 contains a power actuated shearing mechanism comprising a rigidly mounted circular die 14 and an extendable circular shearing member 15 located in a slidable relation ship in member 11. While circular die 14 and shearing member 15 are shown as circular, it is apparent that other configurations of shearing members would work equally well in my punching mechanism. Die 14 has a hardened face 14a on one end for supporting the material to be sheared and on the outside circumference a shoulder 14b adaptable for engagement by suitable fastening means such as a setscrew l6. Setscrew l6 prevents rotation and movement of die 14 in member 11 but it does not support die 14 during the shearing process. Instead a plate 18 which is fastened to member 11 through a number of bolts 19, securely supports die end in member 11 during the shearing process. Plate 18 contains an opening 18a which is slightly larger than the opening in die 14. The opening and the opening in die 14 are aligned so that when material is sheared between die 14 and shearing member 15 the slug from the material passes through die 14 and readily falls through the enlarged opening 18a in plate 18.

One of the unique features of my invention is the shearing member 15 in member 11 which functions both as a shearing device and a hydraulic piston. Having shearing member 15 serve a dual purpose minimizes the number of moving parts in my punching mechanism and also allows member I1 to be made very compact. That is, no bulky lever mechanisms are necessary for operating shearing member 15. This feature is particularly advantageous with small plastic battery containers where the distance between cell walls is relatively small thus requiring a compact punching mechanism.

A close tolerance fit between shearing member 15 and a sleeve 20 and a sleeve 21 maintains shearing member in proper alignment with die 14. An O-ring seal 22 is located around shearing member 15 and in pressure contact with sleeve 20 which prevents leakage of hydraulic fluid past the end of shearing member 15. Similarly, an O-ring seal 23 located around the other end of shearing member 15 and in pressure contact with sleeve 21 prevents leakage of hydraulic fluid past the other end of shearing member 15. A removable plate 25 which is fastened to member 11 through fastening means (not shown), allows a new shearing member to be in 'serted if the shearing member 15 should become dull from usage. To prevent leakage past plate 25 there is provided an O-ring 26 that forms a fluid tight seal between plate 25 and member 11.

Another unique feature of my invention is that member 11 and member 12 are mounted in a rotatable relationship through annular stud member 30. Annular stud member 30 has a threaded portion 38 on one end that screws into a thread recess 35 in member 11. A shoulder 30b on stud member 30 engages shoulder 36 in member 11 so that stud member 30 can be tightened securely into member 11 without having shoulder 30c on the other end of stud member 30 pressure engage member 12. By allowing a small clearance between shoulder 300 in member 12, it allows member 12 to rotate freely about stud member 30. Located around the top of member 12 is an O-ring 40 that is in pressure contact with member 11 and prevents leakage past the engaging portions of member 11 and member 12. Similarly, an O-ring 41 and an O- ring 42 prevent leakage of hydraulic fluid past opposite ends of stud member 30.

Located around shearing member is an annular plenum chamber 50 that receives hydraulic fluid from a source (not shown) through an inlet 59, a central passage 51, and a passage 52 in member 11. Similarly, located around the opposite end of shearing member 15 is a plenum chamber 55 that receives hydraulic fluid through an inlet 60, passage 61, an annular passage 62 and a passage 63. A plug 65 in member 12 is shown for ease in making passage 61 into annular passage 62. Obviously, plug 65 is not necessary if passage 61 is made an angle through inlet 60 to annular passage 62.

Normally, each punching mechanism is held on a support bar 78 that fits into a slot 77 in member 12. A first shoulder bolt 76 and a second shoulder bolt 76 are screwed into two threaded holes in member 12 through slot 79 in support bar 78. The distance of travel is limited by length of slot 79 in support bar 78. A number of support bars are then supported on two rods perpendicular to the support bars by means of linear ball bushings (not shown). This allows the punching mechanisms to move freely in a sideways direction. Punch mechanism 10 thus can be readily rotated or moved in any direction to fit into my punching fixture.

Referring to FIG. 3, reference numeral 80 generally designates a top view of my gang punching fixture for holding my individual punching mechanisms in spaced relationship for simultaneously forming a number of holes in a battery container wall. Gang punching fixture assembly 80 comprises a first guide 81, a second guide 82, a third guide 83 and a fourth guide 84. Guides 8184 extend vertically upward for forming an abutting relation with the outside sidewalls of a battery container. Because the interior partition walls are oriented with respect to the sidewalls, proper alignment of the interior cell partition walls in the container is ensured by locating the container with respect to guides 81-84; Guides 8184 are fastened to fixture 80 through suitable fastening means such as bolts 85.

Located in fixture 80 are two vicelike mechanisms 90 and 91 for pressure engaging punching mechanism 12. Vicelike mechanism 90 comprises a bar 92 rigidly mounted in fixture 80 and a movably mounted bar 93 located in a spaced parallel relationship from bar 92 Bars 92 and 93 coact to firmly support a plurality of punching mechanisms 12 therebetween.

A shaft 101 is located in a rotatable relationship through clearance holes in bar 92, bar 93, and mounting member 104, which fastens rigidly to fixture 80. Similarly a shaft 107 is located in a rotatable relationship on the other side of fixture 80 through clearance holes in bar 92, bar 93, and mounting member 108 which fastens rigidly to fixture 80. A first compression spring 118 and a second compression spring 125 coact to force bar 92 and bar 93 apart when vice mechanisms 90 is in the open position. This allows punching mechanisms to be quickly removed or placed between bar 92 and bar 93. Located on one end of shaft 107 is a cam member 110 that restrains shaft 107 from longitudinal movement toward bar 92 and located on one end of shaft 101 is a similar cam member 105 that restrains shaft 101 from longitudinal movement toward bar 92. The portions of cam 105 and 110 that engage mounting member 104 and 108 are flat so that rotational motion of shaft 101 and 107 does not cause longitudinal movement of shaft 101 or 107 against mounting members 104 or 108. Located on the other end of shaft 101 is a second cam member 115 for engagement with movable member 93 and a handle 116 for rotating shaft 101 and cam members 155 and 115. Also located on the other end of shaft 107 is a cam member 120 and a handle 121 for rotating shaft 107.

When an operator rotates shaft 101 and 107 cam member 115 and cam member 120 force movable bar 93 toward bar 92. By continuing to turn shaft 101 and 107 the cams 115 and 120 force bar 92 into a pressure clamping relationship with punching mechanism 12 and bar 90.

In order to clamp a second group of punching mechanisms in fixture there is provided similar Vicelike mechanism 91 comprising a rigidly mounted rear bar 141 and a movably mounted front bar 140. Bar 140 and 141 are similar togbar. members 92 and 93 in that they also pressure clamp the punching mechanisms. Although it 'will'beapparent that more or less punching mechanisms could be used in fixture 80, the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 'has means for-holding only five punching mechanisms. This would be a typical setup for a con ventional l2-volt battery which has partition walls which are to be punched to receive five intercell connectors.

The operation of vicelike mechanism 91 is similar to the operation of vicelike mechanism in that rotation of shaft 101 and shaft 107 forces the extended portion cam and cam against movable bar 140 thus forcing bar 140 rearward toward rear bar 141. Thus by rotation of shafts 101 and 107 the five punching mechanisms are brought into pressure clamped relationship within fixture 80. By counterrotation of shafts 101 and 107 cam members 105, 115, 110 and can be rotated into a nonengaging condition with movable bar 91 and movable bar 92 thus allowing the punching mechanism to be quickly released or reoriented with fixture 80. For purposes of illustrating a different position of the punching mechanism, punching mechanism 120 has been located in the position so that the slot for receiving intercell partition wall is parallel to bar and 141 as opposed to the slots in the other punching mechanism having the slots for receiving the intercell wall perpendicular to bar 140 and 141.

During the punching process the slugs or the portion of the material that is sheared from the partition walls is forced through the die member. in order to readily remove these slugs, there is provided a plurality of chutes 146 that are located adjacent tothe punching mechanisms 12. Chutes 146 comprise a U-shaped channel for directing the slugs into a container (not shown) located below fixture 80."

In operation of my gang punching mechanism andfixture a plurality of openings are simultaneously formed in the partition sidewalls of the battery container. Because the operation of all the punching mechanisms 12 are identical, only the operation of punching mechanism 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described.

A battery container partition wall 150 extends downward into member 11. The end of partition wall 150 abuts against the top of U-shaped spacer 151 which mounts in member 11. if desired, spacer 151 can be quickly removed and replaced with a different size spacer to obtain a different location of the holes in the partition wall.

To shear an opening in partition 150 an operator supplies a fluid under a high pressure at inlet passage 60. The high pressure fluid is transmitted through passage 61, annular passage 62, passage 63 and into plenum chamber 55. This high pressure fluid produces a force on the back side of punching member 15 thus forcing punching member 15 toward die14. [f the pressure is sufficiently high the sharp end of shearing member 15 shears through the partition wall. (Typically, the partition walls of these containers are made from polypropylene, however, other suitable materials could also be used). After the high pressure fluid in plenum chamber'55 forces the end member 15 through partition 150, the high pressure signal is removed from passage 60 thus removing the force that pushed shearing member 15 through the partition wall. However, there is no spring return mechanism or the like for returning member 15. Instead, a pressure signal supplied to inlet 59 goes through passage 51 and passage 52 and into plenum chamber 50. The force generated by the fluid in plenum chamber 15 forces shearing member 15 away from die 14 and into position shown in FIG. 1. i

Thus, applying a high pressure signal on one side shearing member 15 causes member 15 to shear through partition 150 and by applying a high pressure signal on the opposite side of shearing member 15 causes member 15 to return to its original position.

I claim:

,1; An apparatus for making an opening through a wall of a battery container comprising; a first member for receiving a wall of the container; power actuated means for making an opening in the wall, said power actuated means located in said member; a second member adapted to be connected to a source of power for supplying power to said first member, said second member rotatably connected to said first member; and means for holding one of said members in a predetermined position, said means including guides for aligning the battery container with respect to said first member.

2. The invention as described in claim 1 wherein said power actuated means includes hydraulically operated punching members for punching an opening through said wall.

3. The invention as described in claim 2 including a chute for disposing of said-material punched from the wall.

4. An apparatus for making an opening through a wall of a battery container comprising: a first member for receiving a wall of the container; pressure actuated punching means for 1 making an opening in the wall, said punching means comprising a slidable mounted punching member having a shearing face on one end and a fluid pressure activating face on the other end of said slidable punching member, said pressure actuated means located in said first member; a second member adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure for supplying power to said first member, said second member rotatably connected to said first member; and means for holding one of said members in a predetermined position.

5. The invention as described in claim 4 wherein said pressure actuated means comprises a hydraulically actuated member.

6. The invention as described in claim 4 wherein said first memberincluding means for adjusting the position of a continuous wall in said member. 

1. An apparatus for making an opening through a wall of a battery container comprising: a first member for receiving a wall of the container; power actuated means for making an opening in the wall, said power actuated means located in said member; a second member adapted to be connected to a source of power for supplying power to said first member, said second member rotatably connected to said first member; and means for holding one of said members in a predetermined position, said means including guides for aligning the battery container with respect to said first member.
 2. The invention as described in claim 1 wherein said power actuated means includes hydraulically operated punching members for punching an opening through said wall.
 3. The invention as described in claim 2 including a chute for disposing of said material punched from the wall.
 4. An apparatus for making an opening through a wall of a battery container comprising: a first member for receiving a wall of the container; pressure actuated punching means for making an opening in the wall, said punching means comprising a slidable mounted punching member having a shearing face on one end and a fluid pressure activating face on the other end of said slidable punching member, said pressure actuated means located in said first member; a second member adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure for supplying power to said first member, said second member rotatably connected to said first member; and means for holding one of said members in a predetermined position.
 5. The invention as described in claim 4 wherein said pressure actuated means comprises a hydraulically actuated member.
 6. The invention as described in claim 4 wherein said first member including means for adjusting the position of a continuous wall in said member. 